Arc welding mechanism



Jan. 12, 1932. v c. c.' PEcK 1,840,737

Anc WELDING MEcHANIsM Filed Sept. 27,' 1927 INVENTOR.

' A TfORNE 5 .I Patented Jan. 1,2, 193:;I

PATENT OFFICE cEcn. c. PEcx, or CLEVELAND, onmnssIGNon 'ro m LINCOLN ELECTRIC comm,

0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIQ ARC WELDING HE'HANISM f pplicatioli led September 27, 1927. Serial I0. 222,252.

The present improvements relate more particularly to arc welding mechanism wherein an electric arc is struck between the .to et er.

part or parts to be worked and a carbon electrode that is moved relatively to such parts so as to cause the arc-'to traverse the'work. Usually the metal plates or other ye uivalent parts to be joined are broughttoget er with their edges in abutting relation, a filler strlp or wire is inserted .between such edges or along-the line ofthe-seam and the eectof the arc is to i-nterfuse such strip'and ed es so as lirml and permanentlyjto weld t e parts he object ofthe present improvements is to provide anapparatus or mechanism for carrying Aon the foregoing operation more conveniently and eectively. Atthe same time provision is made for controlling the and related ends, the invention, then, consists ofthe-means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the' claims, the annexed drawings and the following descripvtion setting forth in `detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,- such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

` .In said annexed drawings mechanism or apparatus embodying j my present improvements, such apparatus being shown as applied tothe welding. of a longion thel plane indicated by the linei2'.-2, Fig.

'1, 1, onto t e' sup ortln lbed or anvil 4, I

tudinally extending seam between the ed of two juxtaposed plates or sheets of'metal; Fig. 2 isa transverse section of they same taken 1; Fig. 3 -is a broken sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modiiication vin the 'con- 4struction of one of the component parts of the apparatus; and Fig. z.tis a view similar'. to Fig. 3, showing still a vfurther modification. As indicated in the arrangement illustrated in the' several-{igurefs'of the drawings, the work is-shown as `consisting o'ftwo sheets 1,.

Fig. l is a side elevation of an arc welding.

1,1which are disposed with the edges thereof that are to be jomed to ether in substantially abutting relation. S cient space, however, is left between suchedges or the latter may be slightly beveled so that a-fller strip or Wire 2 vmay be inserted therebetween, or such` strip may be placed so as simply to rest upon the seam.. This element 2 will usually be of the same material,i. e. iron or steel, as the metalof the sheets but may, if desired, contain special alloying constituents or even be of a different metal entirely, so far as the practice of the present invention is concerned. The object of the welding operation,

it will be understood, is to melt down such element 2 and interfuse the same with the edges of the sheets v1, 1, so that the resultant seam 3, as shown'at the left-hand end of Fig. 1, wlllbe of -substantially the same thickness l as the sheets and possess a strength and ductilltyj equal to, if not greater than, that possessed by such sheets.

The latter with such filler' element 2 interposed'betweenor resting upon their abutting edges are supported u on a bed or anvil 4, which willpreferabl be of steel, except for a strip 5 of copper w ich is disposed directly beneath the seam and thus below the line of Atheweld. The weldin as previously indicated, is accomplished y means ofan electric arc,a carbon electrode 6 being em loyed and the lwelding circuit including suoli carbon, the filler element 2 and the bed or anvil 4 or rather the stri;

l n 5 which, as aforesaid, forms apart thereo The holder 7 for such electrode,.shown in side elevation in Fig. 1

is. of a speciall design that forms'no part of .i

the present invention, such holder being char'- acterized among other things by havin connections 8 for circulating a cooling iquid through the body thereof.

For the vurpese of clamping the sheets in themselves, or such additional pressure nary-be applied thereto,'as to cause them to retain the edges of the sheets that constitute the work securely in place upon such bed and they will be of metal or equivalent conductive material. Preferably the main body of said bars is made of steel, but each bar is provided along its lower edge with a base l0, of copper or equivalent metal of relatively' high heat as well as electrical conductivity. such base being integrally united as by welding or otherwise firmly secured topsuch steel portion of the bar. The dimensions of the latter in cross section may vary. Preferably such bars will be of greater height than width. as shown in Fig. 2, so as laterally to enclose the electrode 6 and the arc that is formed between the "latter and the work when the operation of welding is in progress.. It will further 'be noted that the bases 10 of saidk bars are respectively formed with inwardly extending portions or toes 11 that may be approached closely to either side of the seam or line of Weld, and in such position overlie the corresponding edges of the copper strip in bed 4; also that the upper corners of the juxtaposed edges of such bases are cut away or beveled.

The general features of construction thus far described, it should he noted, are set forth and claimed in the (2o-pending application of J. F. Lincoln, filed July 3, 1923, Serial No. 649,246, and it is accordingly to the following features of improvement that attention is herein more particularly directed. y

.Referring first of all to the copper strip 5, it should beexplained that while 4the bed 4 is formed with a recess 12 to receive such strip, so that the upper face thereof will-lie ,substantially flush with the upper surface of the bed, the strip is not so tightly fitted to the recess but that it is capable of vertical movement therein. Aligned with the recess 12 and extending downwardly therefrom through bed 4 is a series .of apertures 13 in which reciprocably fit the upper ends of a corresponding series of plungers 14. The main bodies of such plungers are housed in a portion of the frame 15 that carries the lbed 4, and surrounding each plunger is a compression spring 16 that coacts with a shoulder 17 thereon so as to tend to press the plunger upwardly. The lower end of each plunger has a nut 18 threaded thereon, such end with the nut lving in a transverse opening 19 in the housingr support 15 so that the nut is accessible for the purpose of adjustment. It willbe obvious that by adjustment of the` nut on any'plunger, the upward movement of the latter will be correspondingly limited so as to raise the portion of the strip 5, wherewith its upper end engages, the desired slight amount in recess 12.

As a result of the foregoing construction, .the copper strip, it will be seen, is in effect resiliently supported throughout its length and accordingly-when the sheets 1 are placed on the bed with their abutting edgesl on such strip and the bases of the bars 9 are of the bars.

thereupon depressed into contact with such sheets, the latter will in turn be brought into uniform pressure-contact with the strip 5. In other words, in case there are any slight bends in the sheets or irregularities in the contour of such edges, the strip 5, which is sufficiently flexible for the purpose, will accommodate itself thereto and be brought into substantially uniform' contact with the edges of the plates under pressure of the resiliently actuated plungers.

The bases 10'of the bars 9, as shown in Fig. 2, are cut away on their under faces save adjacent their inwardly directed portions or toes, as such portions have been designated above. Substantially the same effect is secured in the modied construction shown in Fig. 3 where strips 20, of the same general construction as the bases 10, are set into downwardly and inwardly inclining recesses 21 formed in the juxtaposed lower edges of the bars9. Such inset strips, in other words, give the same effect as the inner beveled edges or toes of the bases 10. In both forms of construction, it will be seen, the strips that constitute the bases of the bars 9 are formed so as.to contact with the plates that are to be welded together along their juxtaposed edges only. yThis further assists in securing a uniform clamping action of the edge portions of the plates between such bases and the resiliently supported strip 5 in the bed 4. i

In order to introduce still more adjustability in the work clamping means thus provided, the further modification in construction shown in Fig. 4 may be utilized. The strips 22 are substantially identical with the strips shown in Fig. 3 andare similarly inset in recesses 23 in bars 9. However, instead `of being relatively fixedly held in such recesses, such strips 22 are capable of sliding movement in a direction transverse A series of set screws 24 being inserted at intervals between the bottoms of the recesses and the corresponding edge of eachstrip provide an adjustable backing for the strip supplementing that afforded by the spring actuated plungers which support the strip 5 in the bed.

As a result of the cutting away of the under faces of the two'strips'10 and the equivalent conformation in cross-section of the strips 20 and 22 in the modified constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, the restricted portions of such faces that contact with the work along the line of the weld will substantially overlap the fiexible resiliently supported strip 5 on the bed.' It should further be noted that due to the fact that the-material of the strips 10 is copper or other metal of equivalent high heat conductivity, the arc once struck preferentially stays by the pool of molten metal or crater thereby formed inthe Work and as the elecl' trode is moved'along-the line of the weld and the arc becomes attenuated, it willmore readily follow such line where the latter -is guarded, 'so to speak, on either side by a strip of the character described, particularly when associated with bars of the character of the bars 9, The latter, and'particularly the strips that form the bases thereof, are not apt to become heated even in the proximity of the arc to the degree that the portion of the filler strip just forwardof the .arc and the adjacent edge portions of the sheets 1 do. Accordingly, the arc is constrained to move in the desired direction instead of jumping to 'one'.'side or the other.

The' inwardly directed portions of such bases or strips furthermore serve to confine any overiiow of molten metal resulting from the interfusion ofthe filler strip or wire 2 with the abutting edges of the plates 1 and so assist in forming a smooth seam with straight edges throughout its length.

Other modes of a plying the rinciple of my invention may be employedp instead of` the one explained, "change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided' the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention l. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a bed for su porting the` work and` an electrode and ho der thereformovable relatively to said bed in a longitudinal direction, said bed comprisin a suitable support and a stri of metal having a relatively high conductiv1ty carried by said support 1n line with the path of travel of said electrode, wherewith the work/V may directly contact, and a series of spaced, spring-pressed plungers engaging the under side of said strip at corresponding spaced points and tending to press the same towards the work.

2. In arc welding mechanism, the combination of a bed for supporting the work and an electrode and holder therefor movable relatively to said bed in a longitudinal direction,

said bed comprising a suitable support formed in its upper face with a recess in line with the path of travel of said electrode and a flexible strip of-metal having a relatively high conductivity movablyheld in such recess, wherewith the work may directly'contact, and a series of spaced, spring-pressed plungers engaging the under. side of said stri -at corresponding spaced points and ten 'ng to press the same towards the work. 3. In are welding mechanism, the combination of a bed for supportin the work and an velectrode andA holder there or movable relatively to said bed in a longitudinal direction,

said bed .comprising a suitable support formed in its upper face with a recess in line with the path of travel of said electrodeand ,signed'to contact with the work alongside the lline being welded, said strip having its under Iface' `retreating save for a relatively narrow to the work, the conectiona ilexi'ble'strip of metal having a relatively' high conductivity movablyheld in such recess, wherewith the work' may directly contact, a series of spaced, spring-pressed plungers engaging the under side of said strip at corresponding spaced points and tending to ress the same towards' the work, and ad- ]ustable means limiting the action of said plungers.

4. In arc -welding mechanism, the combination. of a bed for supporting therv work and an electrode and'holder therefor movable relawith the path of travel of said electrode and a flexiblev strip of metal having a relatively f high conductivity movably held in such recess, wherewith lthe work may directly contact, aseries of spaced, spring-pressedplungers rengaging the'under side'of saidN strip at corresponding spaced points and tending to press .the same towards the work, and nuts threaded on said plungers adapted to limit the action thereof, respectively.

5. A work-clamping d ev'ice for use in arcwelding, comprising a strip of material having a relatively high heat conductivity de! work-contacting portion.

6. A Work-clamping device for use in arc- -welding, comprising a strip of material'having a relatively high heat conductivity designed to contact w th the work alongside the line being welded, said strip having its under face cut away save fora relativelyznar- .row work-contacting portion, and means for pressing said strip to the work.

7. A work-clamping device for use in arcwelding, comprising a strip of material having a relatively high heat conductivity dev signed tdcontactwith the work alon 1ide the" line being welded, said strip having its under 5110, face cutaway save for a relatively narrow .Work-contacting portion, and a bar mounted on said strip for pressing the latter ltothe work.

8. A work-clamping device for use in arc- .lilo

'under' vface cut away save for a relatively El narrow work-contactin portion, and a barmounted on said strip or ressing the latter between said strip and bar being adjustablef 9. In arc-welding mechanism, the combina-V tion with a bed for supporting the work and an electrode and holder therefor movable relatively to said bed in a longitudinal direction, said bed including a`flexible strip of metal havinga relatively high conductivity aligned with the path. of travel of said elecy trode, resilient means tending to press said strip towards the work, and two strips of similar highly conductive metal disposed one 5 on each side ol the path of travel of said electrode and adapted to Contact with the work on the opposite side thereof from said 'first-mentioned strip, said two strips leach having the under face thereof cut away save for a relatively narrow portion lying in substantially overlapping relation with respect to said first-mentioned strip.

' l0. In are-welding mechanism, the combination with a bed forsupporting the work and an electrode and holder therefor movable relatively to said bed in a longitudinal direction, said bed including` a flexible strip of Ametal having a relatively high conductivity aligned with the path 'of travel of said elec- 2`0 ti'ode, resilient means tending to press said strip toward the work, Clamping bars laterally of said electrode, two strips of highly conductive metal disposed one on each side of the path of travel of said electrode and mounted in the clamping bars and adapted to Contact with the work, and regulable means earried by the clamping bars for pressing said two strips to the work.

` 11.In arc-welding mechanism, the combination With a bed for supporting the work and an electrode and holder therefor movable relativelyto said bed in a longitudinal direction, said bed including a flexible strip of metal having a relatively high conductivity aligned with the path of' travel of said electrode, resilient means tending to press- Said strip toward the work, clamping bars laterally of said electrode, two strips of highly conductive metal disposed one on each side 4o of the path of travel of said electrode and inset in the clamping bars and adapted to Contact with the work, and regulable screwthreaded means for adjusting said strips in the clamping bars.v

l2. In arc-'welding mechanism, the eombination of a work supporting bed, a'strip of resilient. material inset in said bed and arranged in line with the path of travel of the v welding electrode, resilient means normallyv supporting said strip above the surfacel of said bed, and means for clamping the work onsaid bed. 4 Signed by me, this 24 day of 4September, 1927.

"CEoIL-o. PEGK. 

